Political Parties: Finance

Bob Neill: To ask the hon. Member for South-West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 26 October 2009,  Official Report, column 6W, on political parties: finance, from which  (a) legal firms,  (b) Queen's counsel and  (c) other sources the Electoral Commission sought advice in connection with its investigation into Mr. Michael Brown and Fifth Avenue Partners; how much was paid for such advice in each case; and what the total cost was to the Electoral Commission of the investigation.

Gary Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that, in addition to legal advice from its in-house legal counsel, it also obtained legal advice from Queen's counsel, Michael Beloff QC; and from junior barristers, Jane Collier, Tom Hickman and Michael Nield. Payments to Queen's counsel amounted to £33,625 and payments to junior counsel amounted to £26,650.
	The Electoral Commission further informs me that it does not record the precise direct and indirect costs associated with any particular case but, now that the investigation is closed, can estimate that the staff and incidental costs incurred, including the above legal costs, amounted to approximately £170,000.

Members: Allowances

Stewart Jackson: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Hammersmith and Fulham of 2 March 2010,  Official Report, column 1006W, on Members: expenses, how much the  (a) budget and  (b) approved purchase order is for the use of Detica to undertake investigations in 2009-10; and what it was in 2008-09.

Nick Harvey: An invoice for £15,640, inclusive of VAT, has now been received in line with the original budgetary provision. This was for a piece of work in support of the internal inquiry into the unauthorised disclosure of information about Members' allowances. No payment for such work was made in 2008-09.

Nurseries

Christopher Chope: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission pursuant to the oral answer to the hon. Member for Mid-Worcestershire of 11 March 2010,  Official Report, column 423, on the day nursery, when consultation with experts and providers began; when he expects that consultation to finish; and what consultation is being undertaken with those who will be relocated from 1 Parliament street.

Nick Harvey: Consultation with child care experts has been continuous since November 2009, and is expected to continue throughout the duration of the project. Consultation with providers took place to help inform the options paper presented to the Commission in December, but is now in abeyance until completion of the procurement process. Management are consulting with Trade Unions and regularly briefing those staff who are to be relocated from 1 Parliament street.

Departmental Written Questions

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what methodology his Department used to determine whether answers to questions in the formulation if he will set out with statistical information related as directly as possible to the tabling hon. Member's constituency the effects on that constituency of his Department's policies since 1997 could be provided without incurring disproportionate cost; and if he will make a statement.

Ann McKechin: The Scotland Office has not received any such questions.

Armed Forces: Pensions

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what differences there are between the Armed Forces Pension Scheme 1975 and the Armed Forces Pension Scheme 2005 in respect of pension payments following the subsequent remarriage or co-habitation of widows.

Kevan Jones: Where a widow has been granted a non attributable pension under the Armed Forces Pension Scheme 1975 ("AFPS 1975"), i.e.: in circumstances where the death of her husband was not attributable to service, and that widow subsequently marries or co-habits with another person, then the pension is no longer payable.
	In cases where a widow has been granted an attributable pension under AFPS 75 where her husband's death on or after 31 October 2000 was attributable to service, and that widow subsequently marries or co-habits with another person, her pension will remain in payment.
	Under the Armed Forces Pension Scheme 2005 ("AF'PS 2005"), where a widow in receipt of a pension remarries or co-habits with another person, the pension payable under AFPS 2005 is unaffected.

Departmental Location

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence at what locations his Department's officials are based together with  (a) Army,  (b) Navy and  (c) Royal Air Force staff.

Kevan Jones: The site level location data for service and civilian personnel is not held in a format that allows cross comparison. This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Burma: United Nations

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how often he receives reports from the EU Special Envoy on Burma on his activities; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: The EU Special Envoy for Burma, Piero Fassino, regularly reports to EU member states including on his 20 November 2009 meeting with the Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation of Burma and his engagement with regional parliamentarians and officials in Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam also in November 2009. More recently, Mr. Fassino reported on the EU Troika meeting with the Burmese Foreign Minister in December 2009 and on his meetings with Assistant Secretary of State, Kurt Campbell and other partners, at the United Nations at the end of January 2010.
	There are currently no plans to make a statement but the UK welcomes Mr. Fassino's continued efforts to communicate the EU's position to the Burmese authorities, countries in the region and international partners, to try and bring positive change to Burma.

Agriculture: Subsidies

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when his Department will make the Single Payment Scheme payment to Mrs Mary Wilkinson of Little Hadham, Hertfordshire for 2007; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Mrs. Wilkinson has received her payment.

Carbon Emissions: Waste Disposal

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 9 February 2009,  Official Report, column 1578W, on carbon emissions: waste disposal, what the reference number is of the research project; which body undertook the research; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the research report on estimating carbon dioxide emissions from domestic burning.

Dan Norris: Research project ED431843 was undertaken by AEA Technology, and provides estimates of dioxin emissions from domestic burning. A copy of the research report has been placed in the House Library.

Departmental Correspondence

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he plans to reply to correspondence from Richard D. Hall dated  (a) 4 December 2009,  (b) 6 December 2009,  (c) 15 December 2009 and  (d) 2 March 2010 on animal mutilation.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Neither DEFRA nor its agency, Animal Health, hold a record of having received correspondence of the dates referred to by the hon. Member for Blaydon.

Departmental Internet

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department has spent on maintaining its  (a) Flickr channel,  (b) YouTube channel and  (c) Twitter feed in the latest period for which figures are available.

Dan Norris: The annual licence fee for DEFRA's Flickr channel is $24.95 (US dollars). There is no licence fee for DEFRA's You Tube channel. There are no other costs and both channels are maintained by in-house staff. DEFRA does not have a Twitter feed.

Departmental Travel

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much  (a) Ministers and  (b) staff of each grade in (i) his Department and (ii) its agencies spent on first class travel in the last 12 months.

Dan Norris: The following tables show the expenditure for first class air and rail travel for  (a) Ministers and  (b) staff of each grade, for core DEFRA and the agencies that use the Corporate Travel Framework contract, for the 12-month period of February 2009 to January 2010.
	To identify spend by those agencies that do not use the Corporate Travel Framework or where it has been incurred outside these arrangements can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  (a) Ministers travel-February 2009 to January 2010 
			   Expenditure (£) 
			 Core DEFRA 14,850.64 
		
	
	
		
			  (b) Staff travel-February 2009 to January 2010 
			   Grade  Expenditure (£) 
			 Animal Health Agency 5 535.14 
			  6 2,162.26 
			  7 3,474.50 
			  AO 9,019.78 
			  EO 1,261.14 
			  HEO 803.22 
			  SCS 2,096.14 
			  SEO 1,188.11 
			 Animal Health Agency total  20,540.29 
			
			 Core DEFRA 5 36,832.46 
			  6 88,169.88 
			  7 257,929.78 
			  AA 885.00 
			  AO 6,375.38 
			  EO 13,683.44 
			  HEO 132,837.21 
			  SCS 130,380.13 
			  SEO 105,905.87 
			 Core DEFRA total  757,281.32 
			
			 Rural Payments Agency 5 4,281.12 
			  6 73,242.89 
			  7 123,106.59 
			  AO 17,508.27 
			  CX 79.00 
			  EO 17,993.47 
			  G6 3,343.88 
			  G7 15,884.63 
			  GR7 515.32 
			  GRA ¦ 4,310.98 
			  HEO 70,184.61 
			  HMI 92.52 
			  SCS 30,490.98 
			  SEN 106.35 
			  SEO 133,752.07 
			  SHM 2,143.08 
			  TEA 1,020.64 
			 Rural Payments Agency total  498,056.40 
			
			 Government Decontamination Service 5 38.82 
			  6 801.10 
			  7 1,439.68 
			  AO 61.00 
			  HEO 155.14 
			  SEO 53.52 
			 Government Decontamination Service total  2,365.76 
			
			 Marine and Fisheries Agency 5 378.00 
			  6 3,045.10 
			  7 4,428.54 
			  AO 854.64 
			  EO 65.32 
			  HEO 2,070.80 
			  SCS 1,412.47 
			  SEO 2,996.07 
			 Marine and Fisheries Agency total  15,250.94 
			
			 Centre for Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture Studies 7 1,363.65 
			 Centre for Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture Studies total  1,363.65

Recycling

Desmond Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the extent to which the recycling industry can contribute towards meeting Courtauld II recycling targets in local authority areas; and if he will make a statement.

Dan Norris: Phase II of the Courtauld Commitment includes a new target for a 10 per cent. reduction in the carbon impact of grocery packaging: an estimated 1.1 million tonne CO2 equivalent emissions reduction through reducing the weight, increasing the recycling rates, and increasing the recycled content of grocery packaging.
	This new target is a key contribution to our aim of optimising packaging reductions, wider eco-design and increasing recycling, as set out in the Packaging Strategy. It will encourage companies to take up recycled contents in their packaging-another objective of the Packaging Strategy.
	Separate from the Courtauld Commitment, DEFRA and the devolved Administrations have recently published a consultation document proposing higher producer responsibility targets for packaging, covering 2011-20. The consultation seeks views on the extent to which the recycling industry (among others) can help achieve local recycling targets. The consultation can be found at
	www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/packaging-regs/index.htm

Waste Disposal: Fees and Charges

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs who the respondents were to his Department's consultation on  (a) incentives for recycling by households of May 2007,  (b) draft guidance on household waste incentive schemes of June 2008 and  (c) statutory good recycling service guidance of September 2008.

Dan Norris: The list of respondents for the Consultation on the Incentives for Recycling by Households, May 2007, can be found in the summary of responses which is available on DEFRA's website:
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/strategy/incentives/documents/incentives-responses-summary2007.pdf
	The respondents to the informal consultation on draft guidance, June 2008, are as listed. Some respondents submitted more than one response.
	Absorbent Hygiene Products Manufacturers Association
	Association of Charity Shops
	Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council
	Birmingham City Council
	Bromsgrove District Council (did not comment on consultation documents)
	Cambridgeshire County Council
	Campaign for Real Recycling
	Chartered Institution of Wastes Management
	County Surveyors Society
	Coventry City Council
	ESRC BRASS Centre, Cardiff University
	GMB Union
	Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority
	Hampshire County Council
	Local Authority Recycling Advisory Committee
	London Borough of Sutton
	Norfolk County Council
	Paediatric Continence Forum
	Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council
	Responses from private individuals
	South Gloucestershire Council (did not comment on consultation documents)
	Waste Watch
	The list of respondents to the formal consultation on statutory Good Recycling Service guidance, September 2008, can be found in the summary of responses which is available on DEFRA'a website:
	www.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/strategy/incentives/documents/summary-consultation-responses.pdf

High Speed Two

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what recent representations he has received on the route for the High Speed Two rail link; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mole: My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Transport, has spoken to a number of stakeholders, including representatives of the Chilterns Conservation Board and the National Trust, as well as Members of this House whose constituencies lie on the recommended route. The Department for Transport also receives general correspondence covering many policy areas, including high speed rail and the conurbations it may serve, from a number of individuals, organisations and companies.
	In identifying its recommended route for a high speed rail line from London to the west midlands, HS2 Ltd. held confidential discussions with relevant county and local planning authorities regarding specific options. A summary list and the full text of various detailed submissions which stakeholders submitted during the engagement process undertaken by HS2 Ltd. was published alongside the Command Paper.

Network Rail: Industrial Accidents

Greg Hands: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many  (a) employees and  (b) contractors of Network Rail have been (i) killed and (ii) injured at work in each year since its inception; and what cause was attributed to each incident.

Chris Mole: Accidents and incidents on the railways are reported to the independent Office of Rail Regulation under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR 95).
	Table 1 lists the number of Network Rail employees and its contractors fatally injured while undertaking railway operations reported to the independent Office of Rail Regulation. These data exclude such employees fatally injured in road traffic accidents and fatalities arising out of a railway under construction, the latter being reported to the Health and Safety Executive.
	The data also excludes other railway employees (e.g. train crew) that have been fatally injured on Network Rail infrastructure. Table 2 lists all reportable railway employee fatalities that have occurred on Network Rail infrastructure, since Network Rail was formed in October 2002 to the end of 2008.
	Injury data for Network Rail employees and contractors, and information on the cause of each incident could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  Table 1: Fatalities to Network Rail employees and contractors October 2002 - 08 
			   Network Rail employee  Network Rail contractor  Total 
			 2002 (October to December) 0 0 0 
			 2003 0 4 4 
			 2004 0 8 8 
			 2005 0 3 3 
			 2006 0 1 1 
			 2007 2 0 2 
			 2008 0 2 2 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Fatalities to railway employees on Network Rail infrastructure October 2002 - 08 
			   Number 
			 2002 (October to December) 0 
			 2003 4 
			 2004 10 
			 2005 5 
			 2006 3 
			 2007 2 
			 2008 2

Railway Signals: Accidents

Greg Hands: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many  (a) fatalities,  (b) injuries and  (c) incidents of damage to property have been caused by signals passed at danger incidents in each of the last five years.

Chris Mole: There have been no fatalities or injuries caused by signals passed at danger on Britain's railways in the last five years.
	Data for incidents of damage to property caused by signals passed at danger is not held.

Departmental Written Questions

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what methodology her Department used to determine whether answers to Questions in the formulation if she will set out with statistical information related as directly as possible to the tabling hon. Member's constituency the effects on that constituency of her Department's policies since 1997 could be provided without incurring disproportionate cost; and if she will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: When deciding whether a response to a parliamentary question is likely to incur disproportionate cost, DWP staff follow the guidance set by the Cabinet Office which is as follows:
	 Disproportionate cost
	7.26 There is an advisory cost limit known as the disproportionate cost threshold (DCT) which is the level above which Departments can refuse to answer a PQ. The current disproportionate cost threshold for written questions (the limit does not apply to oral questions) is £800 (from 20 January 2010)(6).
	7.27 Since 1991 the disproportionate cost threshold (DCT) has been set by HM Treasury at eight times the average marginal cost of answering Written Parliamentary Questions. Marginal cost is judged as the direct cost of civil servants' time. Average marginal cost is based on a one-month sample of all Written parliamentary Questions answered by those departments with the highest volume of questions. Such samples are taken on a quinquennial basis. In years between quinquennial samples, the Treasury applies indexation to the DCT, but only increases it in £50 steps to avoid the need for frequent small changes. HM Treasury has established the average cost of answering of a written PQ as £154.00 and an oral question as £425.00.
	7.28 Where officials are recommending that a question is not answered due to disproportionate cost, a note setting out the reasons, justifications and the full costs should be provided to the responsible Minister. The cost estimate should be based on a calculation of the cost of civil servants of the relevant grade working for the required length of time to assemble the information. Cabinet Office guidance for officials drafting answers to PQs refers to the fact that 'where information is being refused on the grounds of disproportionate cost, there should be a presumption that any of the requested information which is readily available should be provided.' A Minister may still decide to answer a question, even if providing the answer results in costs above the DCT, for example, on public interest grounds.
	7.29 It is practice in some departments to agree to provide a Member information initially refused (on disproportionate cost grounds) by paying the balance over the disproportionate cost threshold. However, this option may not be available if the relevant officials would not in practice be available to do the work.
	7.30 It should be noted that the 'disproportionate cost' answer is intended to be used where the information is held in an accessible form but is expensive to identify. It is not for cases where the information is not held at all (in the latter case the answer would say 'the information is not held' or similar).
	7.31 The suggested wording for a disproportionate cost answer is:
	"The information is not readily available/held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost."

Departmental Written Questions

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what methodology his Department used to determine whether answers to questions in the formulation if he will set out with statistical information related as directly as possible to the tabling hon. Member's constituency the effects on that constituency of his Department's policies since 1997 could be provided without incurring disproportionate cost; and if he will make a statement.

Gareth Thomas: No such parliamentary questions have been tabled to the Secretary of State for International Development.

Developing Countries: Tuberculosis

Doug Naysmith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to seek to ensure adequate levels of funding for research and development of new drugs, diagnostics and vaccines to reduce the number of cases of MDR and XDR tuberculosis in developing countries.

Gareth Thomas: The Department for International Development (DFID) is providing £24.5 million, from 2006 to 2013, to the Global Alliance for Tuberculosis Drug Development (TBA). The TBA is a not-for-profit public private partnership developing new tuberculosis drugs that will shorten treatment, be effective against susceptible and resistant strains of tuberculosis and be compatible with antiretroviral therapies for those patients who are co-infected with HIV and tuberculosis.
	DFID is also providing £12 million to the Tropical Disease Research special programme at WHO, from 2008 to 2013. The work of this programme has includes accelerating the development of new diagnostics, including tuberculosis, and gaining evidence about how best to combine therapy for HIV and tuberculosis co-infection.

Iraq: Depleted Uranium

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  if he will place in the Library  (a) a copy of the letter from the Minister of State of 3 September 2009 on depleted uranium and  (b) other material held by his Department relevant to a possible connection between the use of depleted uranium and alleged increases in the incidence of (i) birth defects and (ii) cancer in Fallujah;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of claims that the incidence of  (a) birth defects and  (b) cancer has increased amongst residents of Fallujah as a result of the use of depleted uranium; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: I will place in the Library a copy of the letter by the hon. Member for Harrow, West (Mr. Thomas) of 3 September 2009.
	The Department for International Development (DFID) has consulted a number of international and Iraqi organisations with expertise in the health sector in Fallujah about alleged increases in birth defects in Fallujah. These organisations have confirmed to DFID that they are not aware of any reliable data that show such an increase in birth defects. DFID is not aware of any reliable data that demonstrates an increase in cases of cancer in Fallujah and has not carried out an assessment.

Departmental Food

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will take steps to ensure that the meat and dairy products procured by his Department and its non-departmental bodies are free range or produced to standards equivalent to those of the RSPCA Freedom Food scheme.

Joan Ruddock: This Department adheres wherever possible to the key objectives of the Public Sector Food Procurement Initiative (PSFPI), which advises public sector bodies how they can specify higher animal welfare standards, including farm assurance schemes and higher level schemes such as the RSPCA's Freedom Foods standards. BaxterStorey, our contracted catering supplier for DECC, are committed to buying 100 per cent. British meat, both reared and processed, and are accredited to the Red Tractor Farm Assurance Scheme, demonstrating robust support for enhanced animal welfare, environmental responsibility, quality produce and supporting British producers.
	All eggs used by provided by BaxterStorey to DECC are British and free range, and all milk used in the kitchens, cafes and hospitality service is British.
	Information about the Department's non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Children in Care: Child Trust Fund

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer to the right hon. Member for Bolton West of 17 March 2010,  Official Report, column 853W, on children in care: Child Trust Fund, from which provider child trust funds managed by the Official Solicitor or Accountant of Court on behalf of looked-after children have been re-allocated.

Jack Straw: The poorest performers were the Scottish Friendly Managed Growth UK and Engage Investment Growth Fund. In addition funds held in Druids Sheffield Fund were also recommended for switching as limited information regarding performance was available.

Prison Sentences

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many and what proportion of prisoners in England and Wales are serving sentences following conviction for offences related to  (a) fraud,  (b) other financial sector crime and  (c) other white collar crime.

Claire Ward: At the end of June 2009, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 1,875, or 3 per cent. out of a total of 68,375 prisoners serving sentences for fraud and forgery in all prison establishments in England and Wales.
	While statistics are held on the numbers prisoners serving sentences for fraud and forgery, they cannot be broken down further to show which of these convictions specifically related to the commission of financial sector or "other white collar" crime.
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Departmental Written Questions

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what methodology his Department used to determine whether answers to questions in the formulation if he will set out with statistical information related as directly as possible to the tabling hon. Member's constituency the effects on that constituency of his Department's policies since 1997 could be provided without incurring disproportionate cost; and if he will make a statement.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: HM Treasury seeks to answer all parliamentary questions that do not incur disproportionate cost. Disproportionate cost is determined via a disproportionate cost threshold (DCT). The current DCT is £800, announced in Parliament by ministerial statement on the 20 January 2010.
	The calculation of DCT is based on eight times the average marginal cost of answering written PQs. Marginal cost excludes the fixed costs of parliamentary branches and departmental overheads.

Asylum: Housing

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Meriden of 25 January 2010,  Official Report, column 630W, on asylum: housing, how many asylum seekers are housed in dwellings that were formerly vacant social housing.

Phil Woolas: The UK Border Agency contracts with a number of local authorities for the provision of accommodation for eligible asylum seekers. The agency's contracts with local authorities do not stipulate what type of housing they use to fulfil their contractual requirements.

Departmental Buildings

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the answer of 20 July 2009,  Official Report, column 895W, on empty property, what  (a) residential and  (b) business properties his Department (i) owns and (ii) rents overseas; in which locations; and what the cost of those properties was to his Department in the latest period for which figures are available.

Phil Woolas: My Department including its executive agencies does not own any overseas property. The UK Border Agency rents residential and business properties on the continent for use by officials who operate from ports, terminals and office sites. Landlord and other costs of these properties from available information for 2008-09 was £3.6 million.
	The UK Border Agency also operates from Foreign and Commonwealth Office embassies and high commissions around the world for which my Department paid the FCO £16.2 million in 2008-09 for property and related services, excluding non-cash cost of capital and depreciation.

Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisers

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the answer to the right hon. Member for Horsham of 12 November 2009,  Official Report, column 625W, on ministerial policy advisers, what activities the special envoy on youth violence and knife crime has undertaken to date.

Alan Campbell: I can confirm the following activities undertaken by Richard Taylor, the special envoy on youth violence and knife crime.
	
		
			  Date  Activity 
			 18 May 2009 School visit to Bexleyheath School 
			 19 May 2009 Meeting at Charlton Football ground re Youth Violence 
			 21 May 2009 Attendance at Ark Theatre to see Boy X production 
			 1 June 2009 Series of Radio Interviews regarding the judicial system and perpetrators of gun and knife crime 
			 5 June 2009 Attendance at South London Press 
			 6 June 2009 Attendance at four Women two Women Conference 
			 8 June 2009 School visit to La Retraite School 
			 9 June 2009 School visit to Robert Browning School 
			 10 June 2009 Meeting with News of the World 
			 18-19 June 2009 Attendance at Violence and Gang Culture Conference in Leeds 
			 30 June-2 July 2009 LGA Annual Group Conference 
			 3 July 2009 Interview with ITV Exploring Knife Crime 
			 7 July 2009 Attendance at Knife Crime Conference in Leeds 
			 8 July 2009 School visit to St Michaels School 
			 21 July 2009 Meeting with the Prime Minister, Home Secretary, Families United and other victim's families affected by serious youth violence 
			 22 September 2009 Silence The Violence coalition meeting with the Home Secretary 
			 20 October 2009 Private screening of the film 'One Day' 
			 28 October 2009 Home Office Roundtable on Guns, Gangs and Knives 
			 9 December 2009 Meeting with Jaee Samant, Home Office 
			 8 January 2010 Attendance at the Youth Justice Board Serious Youth Violence Forum 
			 8 January 2010 Interview with Radio France International for piece on Knife Crime and Gangs in London 
			 14 January 2010 Meeting with Louise Casey, Home Office 
			 27 January 2010 Launch of the National Victims Service at the Royal Society of Arts by Jack Straw, Justice Secretary 
			 28 January 2010 Meeting with Jack Straw, Justice Secretary with other members of Families United 
			 10 February 2010 Meeting with Jack Straw, Justice Secretary to discuss prisoners access to Facebook 
			 11 February 2010 Meeting with Spirit of London Young Advisors to discuss serious youth violence 
			 12 February 2010 Meeting with Ron Belgrave, London Community Safety Lead, Greater London Authority 
			 13 February 2010 Attendance at Millwall Football Club anti-knife crime 'It Doesn't Have To Happen' event 
			 15 February 2010 Attendance at Home Office Community Fund Event, London 
			 15 February 2010 Roundtable meeting with Vernon Coaker, Minister of State for Schools and Learners in the Department of Children, Schools and Families and other members of Families United 
			 23 February 2010 Attendance at Mothers Against Murder and Aggression Annual Conference, London 
			 26 February 2010 Attendance at Home Office Community Fund Event, Leeds 
			 1 March 2010 Attendance at private screening of 'Fear Factory' film, Leicester Square 
			 4 March 2010 Attendance at Silence the Violence Coalition meeting, London 
			 11 March 2010 Attendance at the Department for Children Schools and Families Youth Taskforce Conference, London 
			 15 March 2010 Attendance at the Department for Children Schools and Families, Families United and the Home Office 'Count Me In' anti-knife crime launch event, Lillian Baylis School, London 
			 15 March 2010 Attendance at Gladesmore School, London as part of the Department for Children Schools and Families, Families United and the Home Office 'Count Me In' anti-knife crime campaign 
			 16 March 2010 Attendance at Manchester Creative Academy, Manchester as part of the Department for Children Schools and Families, Families United and the Home Office 'Count Me In' anti-knife crime campaign 
			 16 March 2010 Attendance at Burnage Media Arts College, Manchester as part of the Department for Children Schools and Families, Families United and the Home Office 'Count Me In' anti-knife crime campaign 
			 17 March 2010 Attendance at Holte visual and performing arts college, Birmingham as part of the Department for Children Schools and Families, Families United and the Home Office 'Count Me In' anti-knife crime campaign 
			 17 March 2010 Attendance at Washwood Heath, Birmingham Technology College as part of the Department for Children Schools and Families, Families United and the Home Office 'Count Me In' anti-knife crime campaign 
			 18 March 2010 Attendance at Alsop High School, Liverpool as part of the Department for Children Schools and Families, Families United and the Home Office 'Count Me In' anti-knife crime campaign 
			 18 March 2010 Attendance at Calderstones, Liverpool as part of the Department for Children Schools and Families, Families United and the Home Office 'Count Me In' anti-knife crime campaign 
			 19 March 2010 Attendance at West Bridgford Comprehensive School, Nottingham as part of the Department for Children Schools and Families, Families United and the Home Office 'Count Me In' anti-knife crime campaign 
			 19 March 2010 Attendance at Bulwell, Nottingham as part of the Department for Children Schools and Families, Families United and the Home Office 'Count Me In' anti-knife crime campaign

Detention Centres

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the longest period is for which  (a) a child and  (b) an adult has been detained by the UK Border Agency at an immigration removal centre in the last five years; and at which location in each case.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 16 March 2010
	The longest period for which a child has been detained by the UK Border Agency at an immigration removal centre in the last five years is 190 days. The child was detained at Yarl's Wood.
	I should stress this particular case relates to a family held in 2005 and was in part due to several failed removal attempts following the family's disruptive behaviour at the point of removal. Since then the UK Border Agency has radicalised the way in which case working of families with children is managed. We now only ever detain families where they have refused to leave the UK voluntarily and their departure has to be enforced, all legal barriers have been concluded, they have a valid travel document and a flight has been booked in a few days. It is therefore our intention that children are only ever in detention for no more than a few days.
	The longest period for which an adult has been detained by the UK Border Agency at an immigration removal centre in the last five years is not available. Information on children has been made available through the examination of individual cases, which would only be possible for adult detainees at disproportionate cost.
	National Statistics on persons (including children) held in detention solely under Immigration Act powers on a snapshot basis are published quarterly. This information is published in tables 9-13 of the Control of Immigration: Quarterly Statistical Summary, United Kingdom bulletins which are available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office's Research, Development and Statistics website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration-asylum-stats.html

DNA: Databases

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many people with profiles on the National DNA Database who had no further action taken in their case have been found guilty of a separate offence  (a) since their profile was added to the database and  (b) primarily as a result of their profile being added to the database;
	(2)  how many people with a profile on the National DNA Database who were found not guilty in court have since been convicted in respect of a separate offence primarily as a result of their profile being on the Database.

Alan Campbell: holding answer 4 February 2010
	The National DNA Database (NDNAD) holds information to allow DNA found at crime scenes to be matched with profiles taken from known individuals, and to pass reports of matches to the police for further investigation. The NDNAD does not hold information on the arrest history of profiled individuals, subsequent charges or details of convictions. The specific information sought is therefore not available centrally.

Electronic Warfare

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment he has made of the likelihood of an  (a) natural and  (b) deliberately initiated electromagnetic pulse affecting critical infrastructure; and what systems are in place to mitigate the effects of such an event.

David Hanson: The Government's Cyber Security Strategy of the United Kingdom, published alongside and reflected in the National Security Strategy update of June 2009, considers a number of methods of cyber attack, including those that generate high levels of radio frequency power that can damage or disrupt unprotected electronics. It also outlines the new governance structures and workstreams which are now building on existing work to take forward the Government's plan for reducing the impact on and vulnerability of the UK's interests from cyber attacks.
	The Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure (CPNI) provides advice on electronic or cyber protective security measures to the businesses and organisations that comprise the UK's critical national infrastructure, including public utilities, companies and banks. CPNI also runs a CERT (Computer Emergency Response Team) service which responds to reported attacks on private sector networks. In addition, CESG provides Government Departments with advice and guidance on how to protect against, detect and mitigate various types of cyber attack.
	It would not be in the interests of national security to publish information about specific vulnerabilities, assessments or protective measures relating to electromagnetic pulse attack.

Identity Cards

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people had  (a) applied for and  (b) been issued with identity cards by the Identity and Passport Service on the latest date for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Hillier: Up to and including 21 March 2010, over 8,900 people have applied for an identity card.
	For the same period, IPS has issued over 8,000 identity cards.

Immigrants: Detainees

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what independent checks there are on the welfare of children detained at immigration removal centres.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 18 March 2010
	 The UK Border Agency takes the health and emotional wellbeing of those in its care very seriously; this is particularly true of children who are regrettably detained-with their parents-pending their removal after they refuse to leave the UK voluntarily. We introduced a new duty in November 2009 contained in the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009, which requires the agency to protect and promote the welfare of children. The Office of the Children's Champion, which includes professional advisers, is responsible for challenging the agency to ensure it meets its obligations, and they provide constant advice and support to those responsible for detention and escorting matters.
	Children can only be held in three immigration removal centres. Tinsley house currently holds families for 24 hours and Dungavel house for up to three days.
	Those families who will be held for longer periods are taken to Yarl's Wood, as are those families in Scotland whose flights are departing from London.
	Prior to detention, the agency conducts a formal assessment of each child to identify any particular medical; safeguarding or welfare needs in order to make the necessary arrangements to support them while in detention. On site independent social workers contribute to this initial assessment.
	Once in detention the social workers continue to make regular weekly welfare checks on each individual child throughout the entire period of detention. In addition to these regular welfare checks, the independent social workers carry out a formal welfare needs assessment between 14-21 days of detention for any child whose detention extends beyond 28 days. A copy of the completed assessment is submitted to the head of Bedford Children's Services; thereby ensuring independent oversight is maintained for the welfare assessments of children held in detention.

Immigrants: Detainees

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assistance is available for individuals detained at UK Border Agency immigration removal centres who are suspected to be at risk of suicide.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 18 March 2010
	A comprehensive self harm reduction strategy is in place at Immigration Removal Centres to support detainees who are deemed to be at risk of suicide or self-harm. Our procedures, called Assessment Care in Detention and Teamwork (ACDT), provide a holistic approach to suicide and self harm prevention within the broader context of decency, safety, and the concept of a healthy centre. It also brings existing policy in line with similar changes implemented by the Ministry of Justice.
	The ACDT process starts as soon as an individual has been identified as being at risk. It involves an initial risk assessment and assessment interview conducted by specially trained individuals. A specific care map tailored to the issues faced by the individual is produced to ensure provision of multi-disciplinary support, including input from both health care professionals and staff at the centre. The ACDT document is reviewed at regular intervals to ensure the correct support is provided while the individual is thought to be at-risk.

Powers of Entry

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which powers of entry have been subject to a liberty test since October 2007.

David Hanson: holding answer 23 March 2010
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Peterborough (Mr. Jackson) on 28 January 2010,  Official Report, columns 1046-48W.

Vetting

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent estimate he has made of the average time taken to complete Criminal Records Bureau checks; what steps he is taking to reduce the time taken; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Hillier: The performance of the CRB is measured against a number of Published Service Standards (PSS) which include to issue 95 per cent. of Standard CRB checks within 10 days and 90 per cent. of Enhanced CRB checks within 28 days.
	In the last period for which figures are available, January 2010, the number of days the CRB took on average to complete an Enhanced check is 29.9 days. This figure includes the data for all Enhanced applications handled by the CRB; some applications are returned to the Registered Bodies or the applicant as data is missing and this figure includes the time on average these applications are out with the customer.
	In recent months demand has significantly exceeded forecasts and as a result, some Enhanced checks have taken longer to process as a result.
	The CRB have been working with their delivery partners, including the police forces, to address the problems associated with delays. The CRB have set up an improvement plan with those forces that have been having problems meeting the demand for certificates. This is aimed at maintaining a steady output of applications on the system while also reducing the number of aged cases; those which have taken longer than 25 days to process.

Young Offenders: Greater London

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 12 October 2010,  Official Report, columns 170-1W, on young offenders: sentencing, how many  (a) 12,  (b) 13,  (c) 14,  (d) 15,  (e) 16,  (f) 17,  (g) 18 and  (h) 19 year olds who had previously been resident in a London borough and who had been convicted for non-violent crimes were given community sentences in (i) 2008 and (ii) 2009.

Claire Ward: I have been asked to reply.
	The available information is provided in the table. Data for 2009 will be available when Sentencing Statistics 2009 is published later this year.
	Figures for those previously resident in a London borough are not available, as places of residence are not recorded on the court proceedings database. The table shows those sentenced in the London criminal justice areas.
	The definition of non-violent offences are all those indictable offences not included in the offence type, 'Violence Against the Person'. Summary offences have not been included as they are not categorised into violent or non-violent offences.
	
		
			  Number of persons sentenced to community sentences for non-violent indictable offences( 1)  by age in London criminal justice area, 2007-08 
			  Age  2007  2008 
			 12 126 78 
			 13 345 311 
			 14 780 717 
			 15 1,181 1,037 
			 16 1,437 1,311 
			 17 1,391 1,423 
			 18 578 498 
			 19 468 445 
			 (1) This includes all indictable offences not included in the Violence against the person offence type. Summary offences have not been included as they are not categorised into violent or non-violent offences.  Notes: 1. These figures have been drawn from administrative data systems. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system. 2. This data has been taken from the Ministry of Justice Court Proceedings database. This data is presented on the principal offence basis. Where an offender has been sentenced for more than one offence the principal offence is the one for which the heaviest sentence was imposed. Where the same sentence has been imposed for two or more offences the principal offence is the one for which the statutory maximum is most severe. 3. Sentences at the Crown Court are categorised according to the police force that prosecuted the offence including those sentences that may be given at a court outside the prosecuting police force's area. The statistics are presented by criminal justice area. Police force areas correspond to criminal justice areas except for the Metropolitan and City of London Police, which are combined to form the London criminal justice area. Prosecutions brought by agencies other than the police are categorised according to the criminal justice area of the sentencing court. In the case of sentences at magistrates courts, a change was made to the categorisation by area as part of the rollout of the Libra case management system in magistrates courts during 2008. Sentences given at courts using the Libra system are categorised according to the criminal justice area of the court while sentences given at courts not yet using the Libra system are categorised in the same way as at the Crown Court. By the end of 2006, all magistrates courts were using Libra. This change will have almost no impact on the categorisation by area; only around 0.01 per cent. of sentences at magistrates courts could have been affected in 2007 and 2008. Police forces do not prosecute minor offences (those that are sentenced at magistrates courts) in courts outside their areas.  Source: Justice Statistics-Analytical Services. Ministry of Justice

Apprentices

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many young people of each sex have participated in apprenticeships of each type since 2000.

Kevin Brennan: Table 1 shows Apprenticeship starts by gender and level, for learners aged under 19 at the start of their programme. Figures are given for 2003/04 onwards, the earliest year for which comparable data are available.
	
		
			  Table 1: Apprenticeship programme starts by gender and level for under 19-year-olds, 2003/04 to 2008/09 
			   Female  Male  Total 
			   Apprenticeship (Level 2)  Advanced Apprenticeship (Level 3)  Total female  Apprenticeship (Level 2)  Advanced Apprenticeship (Level 3)  Total male  Apprenticeship (Level 2)  Advanced Apprenticeship (Level 3)  Grand total 
			 2003/04 41,400 6,600 48,000 41,600 18,600 60,200 83,000 25,200 108,300 
			 2004/05 41,700 7,000 48,600 46,000 18,900 64,900 87,600 25,900 113,500 
			 2005/06 37,200 6,600 43,800 39,900 15,800 55,700 77,100 22,400 99,500 
			 2006/07 37,500 7,500 45,000 43,300 17,400 60,600 80,800 24,800 105,600 
			 2007/08 36,700 7,500 44,200 45,300 18,100 63,400 82,000 25,500 107,600 
			 2008/09 35,400 7,800 43,200 38,800 17,400 56,200 74,200 25,200 99,400 
			  Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred. 2. Figures are based on age at start of programme. Figures include learners aged 16-18 years old and a small number of under 16s. 3. Figures for Advanced Apprenticeships include a small number of Higher Level Apprenticeships.  Source: Individualised Learner Record 
		
	
	Information on the number of Apprenticeship starts is published in a quarterly statistical first release (SFR). The latest SFR was published on 17 December:
	http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/sfrdec09

Children: Day Care

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many childcare places have been created in  (a) Essex and  (b) Castle Point since 1997.

Dawn Primarolo: Information on the number of childcare places available in Essex local authority from 1997 to 2009 is shown in the following table. The information requested is not available by parliamentary constituency.
	
		
			  Table 1: Number( 1)  of childcare places( 2 ) for children under eight years of age position at 31 March each year, 1997-2009 
			   Essex 
			 1997 34,900 
			 1998 34,200 
			 1999 27,200 
			 2000 27,900 
			 2001 28,800 
			 2002 (3)- 
			 2003 32,500 
			 2004 33,800 
			 2005 34,900 
			 2006 36,600 
			 2007 36,800 
			 2008 36,100 
			 2009(4) 32,400 
			 (1) Figures have been rounded to the nearest 100. (2) 1997-2001-Data Source: Children's Daycare Facilities survey-total includes day nurseries, playgroups and pre-schools, childminders, out of school clubs, and holiday schemes. 2003-08-Data Source: Ofsted-total includes full daycare, sessional daycare, childminders, out of school clubs, and creche daycare. 2009-Data Source: Ofsted-total includes childminders, childcare on non-domestic premises, childcare on domestic premises and home child carer. (3) Data were not collected for 2002 during the transfer of responsibility to Ofsted. (4) Figures included are revised figures published by Ofsted in September 2009. Data not collected due to transfer of responsibility from LAs to Ofsted. Local authorities were responsible for the registration and inspection of children's day care facilities from 1997 to 2001. Responsibility transferred to Ofsted from 2003 and correspondingly, the categories of childcare changed from day nurseries, playgroups and pre-schools, childminders, out of school clubs and holiday schemes to full and sessional daycare, childminders, out of school clubs, and creche daycare. Therefore, data from 2003 are not directly comparable with data prior to 2002. 
		
	
	Due to changes in legislation Ofsted have changed the way they publish statistics on registered childcare providers and places. From 1 September 2008, Ofsted started to record providers in line with new legal requirements using the categories of childminders, childcare on domestic premises, and childcare on non-domestic premises. This change means that the total numbers of providers and places (excluding childminding) shown in its returns up to and including August 2008 and from December 2008 onwards (the last under the old system, and the first under the new system) are not directly comparable.

Departmental Food

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will take steps to ensure that the meat and dairy products procured by his Department and its non-departmental bodies are free range or produced to standards equivalent to those of the RSPCA Freedom Food scheme.

Diana Johnson: The Department's catering contract was developed to incorporate the principles of the Public Sector Food Procurement Initiative and the Department's contractor, Autograph, have a policy of supporting Fairtrade, Marine Stewardship, RSPCA Freedom Food and Red Tractor in addition to sourcing food locally wherever possible and where traceability allows.
	As a company, Autograph procure meat, fruit and vegetables nationally at just over 50 per cent. of the total available domestically allocated spend and all dairy produce is of domestic provenance.
	Autograph is committed to supporting and promoting the use of British agriculture, when in season and quality/value permit. They have recently been awarded Red Tractor Assured Food Standards accreditation for the four DCSF head office sites.
	I am unable to provide detail for each of the non-departmental public bodies.

Government Car and Despatch Agency

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much his Department paid to the Government Car and Despatch Agency in each of the last five years; how much it has spent on such payments in 2009-10; and what proportion of such payments was made in respect of the Government Car Service.

Diana Johnson: The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) was created as a result of the machinery of government changes in June 2007. Prior to June 2007, it was Department for Education and Skills (DfES). A service level agreement between DSCF and Government Car and Despatch Agency (GCDA) started in May 2006 and the spend figures from that date are shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Financial year  Spend (£) 
			 April 2009 to January 2010 158,936 
			 2008-09 74,104 
			 2007-08 146,092 
			 2006-07 51,563 
		
	
	The spend figure for 2007-08 shows a larger spend because this included payments made by DCSF on behalf of DCSF; Jobcentre Plus and DWP. The spend figure for the current financial year includes an additional service made for a mail service. Payments from 2006 to May 2009 relate solely to the Government Car Service (GCS). From June 2009, 48 per cent. of the spend relates to GCS.
	Costs to Departments of ministerial cars are reported annually to Parliament by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport through written ministerial statement and are available in the Libraries of the House.

School Catchment Areas

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what recent guidance  (a) his Department and  (b) the Schools Adjudicator has issued to local education authorities on the use of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 to make checks that parents live in their declared school catchment areas; and if he will make a statement.

Diana Johnson: Neither the Department nor the Schools Adjudicator have issued any guidance on the use of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000. The use of these powers is the responsibility of local authorities and we expect them to be used proportionately.

Teachers' TV: Finance

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the budget of Teachers' TV was in the latest year for which figures are available.

Diana Johnson: In the 10-month period from 1 June 2008 to 31 March 2009 the Department allocated a budget to the Teachers TV contract of £10,194,616.
	In the coming financial year Teachers TV will stop broadcasting as a TV channel and become an on-demand only service. This will release savings to the Department of £1,000,000 a year.

Queen's Diamond Jubilee

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills on proposals to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in Northern Ireland in 2012.

Paul Goggins: Planning for the Diamond Jubilee is still at an early stage. I expect my right hon. Friend to have discussions with my noble Friend, the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills in due course.

Security Situation

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his most recent assessment is of the security situation in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

Shaun Woodward: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave earlier to the hon. Members for Macclesfield (Sir Nicholas Winterton), Congleton (Ann Winterton) and the right hon. Member for Bracknell (Mr. Mackay).

Civil Servants: Pay

Nick Hurd: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer to the right hon. Member for Horsham of 25 February 2010,  Official Report, column 698W, on civil servants: pay, what the  (a) job title,  (b) department and  (c) salary range was of each of the 43 jobs; and which of those jobs was advertised on the public part of the website.

Angela Smith: Tables detailing job titles, Departments and salary ranges will be placed in the Libraries of the House. The Cabinet Office is responsible for setting the referral point for each pay band in the senior civil service. For pay band 2 posts this is £120,000 and for pay band 3, £140,000. Departments wanting to pay beyond these referral points must first obtain approval from the Cabinet Office. Where Departments wish to pay more than £150,000 they must obtain approval from the Chief Secretary to the Treasury.

Arthritis

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many finished episodes of care there were for patients with rheumatoid arthritis of each  (a) sex and  (b) age group resident in Southend in each year since 1997.

Mike O'Brien: The following tables show the number of finished consultant episodes with a mention of rheumatoid arthritis, by sex, age group and primary care trust (PCT)of residence.
	The NHS Information Centre (IC) are unable to provide data for 2008-09 due to data quality issues with the data submitted whereby it cannot be determined which patients were resident in this area during this period.
	
		
			  Count of finished consultant episodes with mention of rheumatoid arthritis by sex, age group and South East Essex PCT of residence, 2006-07 to 2007-08 
			  Activity in English NHS hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector 
			   Male  Female  Total 
			   0 to 44  45 to 64  65 to 74  75+  0 to 44  45 to 64  65 to 74  75+  - 
			 2007-08 48 170 114 160 112 241 240 343 1,428 
			 2006-07 38 124 111 95 91 206 177 281 1,123 
		
	
	
		
			  Count of finished consultant episodes with a mention of rheumatoid arthritis  by sex, age group and Southend- on -S ea PCT of residence, 1997-98 to 2005-06 
			  Activity in English NHS  h ospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector 
			   Male  Female  Total 
			   0 to 44  45 to 64  65 to 74  75+  0 to 44  45 to 64  65 to 74  75+  - 
			 2005-06 24 51 53 46 27 78 70 163 512 
			 2004-05 6 30 39 34 28 84 82 156 459 
			 2003-04 * 38 * 25 24 98j 48 90 345 
			 2002-03 * 15 9 0 * 22 10 11 76 
			 2001-02 * * 8 * * 9 7 9 47 
			 2000-01 * 7 10 * * 9 6 8 49 
			 1999-2000 * 8 * 6 * 12 6 7 53 
			 1998-99 * 16 21 11 * 24 28 48 157 
			 1997-98 * 22 25 25 * 54 68 65 275 
		
	
	
		
			  Count of finished consultant episodes with a mention of rheumatoid arthritis by sex, age group and Castle Point and Rochford PCT of residence, 1997-98 to 2005-06 
			  Activity in English NHS hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector 
			   Male  Female  Total 
			   0 to 44  45 to 64  65 to 74  75+  0 to 44  45 to 64  65 to 74  75+  - 
			 2005-06 16 50 69 78 23 103 73 144 556 
			 2004-05 16 54 39 43 20 107 99j 119 497 
			 2003-04 20 49 36 62 32 93 74 105 471 
			 2002-03 10 15 10 * * 18 7 7 69 
			 2001-02 12 13 19 0 6 27 12 8 97 
			 2000-01 * 17 15 10 * 25 6 7 87 
			 1999-2000 * 7 * * * 26 11 * 59 
			 1998-99 * 16 15 * * 31 22 15 110 
			 1997-98 8 24 23 15 15 52 60 39 236 
			  Notes: 1. A finished consultant episode (FCE) is a continuous period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one health care provider. FCEs are counted against the year in which they end. Figures do not represent the number of different patients, as the same person may have been admitted on more than one occasion. 2. The number of episodes where this diagnosis was recorded in any of the 20 (14 from 2002-03 and seven prior to 2002-03) primary and secondary diagnosis fields in a Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) record. Each episode is only counted once, even if the diagnosis is recorded in more than one diagnosis field of the record. 3. Data provided are for Southend-on-Sea PCT of residence (the PCT containing the patient's normal home address). This identifies patients who resided within Southend-on-Sea and were in hospital with a primary and/or secondary diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. These patients may not have been treated in Southend-on-Sea. 4. From 1 October 2006, Southend-on-Sea PCT merged with Castle Point and Rochford PCT to create South East Essex PCT. 5. HES figures are available from 1989-90 onwards. Changes to the figures over time need to be interpreted in the context of improvements in data quality and coverage (particularly in earlier years), improvements in coverage of independent sector activity (particularly from 2006-07) and changes in NHS practice. For example, apparent reductions in activity may be due to a number of procedures which may now be undertaken in out-patient settings and so are no longer included in admitted patient HES data. 6. To protect patient confidentiality, figures between one and five have been replaced with "*" (an asterisk). Where it was still possible to identify numbers from the total an additional number (the next smallest) has been replaced.   Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), the NHS Information Centre for health and social care.

Arthritis

Janet Dean: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent by each primary care trust on rheumatoid arthritis services per head of population in each of the last two years.

Mike O'Brien: The information requested is not available. Estimated expenditure data on musculoskeletal system problems, which includes rheumatoid arthritis, is available and has been placed in the Library.

Diabetes

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) males and  (b) females in each age group were diagnosed with diabetes in (i) Southend, (ii) each borough in Essex, (iii) each borough in Kent, (iv) the Metropolitan police area of London and (v) England in each of the last five years.

Mike O'Brien: Data are not collected in the format requested. Data from the Quality and Outcome Framework (QOF) about the number of people recorded on diabetes registers are available for NHS organisations. However, it is not possible to separate the data by gender or by age.
	Table 1-presents data for Southend PCT for the years 2004-05 and 2005-06 but in October 2006 this PCT was abolished and became part of South East Essex.
	
		
			  Table 1-Southend PCT 
			   Number 
			 2004-05 5,193 
			 2005-06 5,786 
		
	
	Table 2-presents data for the current PCTs in Essex with figures for years in which there was a different structure summed to the current structure.
	
		
			  Table 2-PCTs in Essex 
			   Mid Essex  North East Essex  South East Essex( 1)  South West Essex  West Essex  Total 
			 2004-05 11,007 10,542 10,439 12,390 8,729 53,107 
			 2005-06 11,932 11,537 11,549 13,797 9,295 58,110 
			 2006-07 12,405 12,433 12,499 14,298 9,713 61,348 
			 2007-08 12,926 13,117 13,678 15,543 10,284 65,548 
			 2008-09 14,041 13,948 14,574 16,530 11,051 70,144 
			 (1) PCT figures includes figures for Southend PCT from previous table. 
		
	
	Table 3-shows data for the current PCTs in Kent with figures for years in which there was a different structure summed to the current structure.
	
		
			  Table 3-PCTs in Kent 
			   Medway  Eastern and Coastal Kent  West Kent  Total 
			 2004-05 8,919 26,133 21,040 56,092 
			 2005-06 9,667 27,821 22,139 59,627 
			 2006-07 10,377 28,913 23,082 62,372 
			 2007-08 11,562 31,182 24,666 67,410 
			 2008-09 12,583 33,374 26,145 72,102 
		
	
	Table 4-provides data for the London strategic health authority with figures for previous structures summed to the current area.
	
		
			  Table 4-London 
			   Number 
			 2004-05 278,527 
			 2005-06 295,877 
			 2006-07 300,567 
			 2007-08 320,577 
			 2008-09 337,561 
		
	
	Table 5-provides data for England.
	
		
			  Table 5-England 
			   Number 
			 2004-05 1,766,391 
			 2005-06 1,890,663 
			 2006-07 1,961,976 
			 2007-08 2,088,335 
			 2008-09 2,213,138

Diabetes

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has made an estimate of the number of people with diabetes who were hospitalised as a result of  (a) eating and  (b) drinking products labelled sugar-free which included sucrose or other sugar products in the last 12 months; whether he has had recent discussions with food manufacturers on the accuracy of information on the sugar content of foods; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: Data are not available from either Hospital Episode Statistics or the National Diabetes Audit to identify people hospitalised as a result of eating or drinking products labelled sugar-free which included sucrose or other sugar products.
	Officials at the Food Standards Agency have advised that they have not had recent discussions with food manufacturers about the accuracy of the sugar content of foods.
	Under the European Union Regulation EC/1924/2006; a claim that a food is sugar-free may only be made where the product contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g or 100 ml. It is the responsibility of local authorities to enforce the EU regulations.

Incontinence: Medical Equipment

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to publish the Part IX Guidance and Assurance Framework for the Drug Tariff arrangements to enter into force on 1 April 2010.

Mike O'Brien: The Part IX Guidance and Assurance Framework for the arrangements coming into force on 1 April 2010 are currently being finalised with the aim of publishing them in the next few weeks. Contractors have a transition of nine months before they have to comply with the new regulations.

Northwick Park Hospital: Accident and Emergency Departments

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) children up to 16 years old,  (b) elderly and  (c) other patients were seen per hour in the accident and emergency department of Northwick Park Hospital in the latest period for which figures are available.

Mike O'Brien: Data are not available in the format requested. Data are collected by trust and are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Total number of attendances in 2008-09 accident and emergency (A and E) HES, broken down by 24 hour of arrival and age groups, in North West London NHS Trust 
			  Activity in English national health service hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector 
			   Age group 
			  24 hour arrival  16 and under  17-64  65+  Not known 
			 Total 43,872 104,870 27,298 12 
			 00:00 1,080 2,854 523 - 
			 01:00 741 2,484 444 1 
			 02:00 572 1,894 335 1 
			 03:00 442 1,615 348 - 
			 04:00 382 1,415 331 - 
			 05:00 422 1,440 394 - 
			 06:00 397 1,512 437 - 
			 07:00 556 2,329 544 - 
			 08:00 1,080 4,344 946 - 
			 09:00 2,153 6,150 1,558 - 
			 10:00 2,606 7,276 2,093 - 
			 11:00 2,706 6,662 2,095 - 
			 12:00 2,632 6,346 2,048 - 
			 13:00 2,524 6,105 1,894 - 
			 14:00 2,382 5,939 1,994 1 
			 15:00 2,317 5,381 1,758 - 
			 16:00 2,421 5,191 1,544 1 
			 17:00 2,542 5,378 1,502 1 
			 18:00 2,945 5,607 1,389 - 
			 19:00 3,121 5,578 1,245 1 
			 20:00 3,003 5,530 1,234 - 
			 21:00 2,817 5,122 995 3 
			 22:00 2,290 4,725 914 3 
			 23:00 1,741 3,993 733 - 
			  Notes: 1. Total attendance An attendance is a record for every patient that attends an A and E department, including a major A and E department, single specialty A and E departments, walk-in centres and minor injuries units. Any one patient can have multiple attendances, which may be in the same or different time period, for the same or different condition. An attendance can be split into whether the attendance was either a new or a follow-up attendance, using the 'Attendance Category' data field. 2. A and E data quality Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) are compiled from data sent by a number of NHS providers across England. The NHS Information centre for health and social care liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seek to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data via HES processes. While this brings about improvement over time, some shortcomings remain. A and E HES data are available for the year 2007-08, which covers attendances reported between April 2007 and March 2008. The A and E HES data for 2007-08 are the first record level national A and E attendance data to be available within HES. The current coverage and quality of A and E data in HES is poor and for this reason the dataset has been labelled as 'experimental'. Allowing access to this data will also help stimulate discussion and encourage trusts to improve quality for subsequent releases. The 2007-08 A and E HES publication addresses some of the key data quality and coverage issues. This report is available on HESonline: www.hesonline.nhs.uk  Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), The NHS Information Centre for health and social care

Tuberculosis: Offenders

Julie Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to ensure that medical treatment of prisoners with tuberculosis continues on leaving custody.

Phil Hope: The Department acknowledges that prisoners leaving prison with a diagnosed medical condition such as tuberculosis require ongoing care from primary and specialist care services in the community.
	This is a challenge given the often complex social and personal circumstances of prison-leavers. Issues around homelessness are a particular concern as it can lead to loss of contact with locality based care services. Recognising the need for cross-organisation working, the Department has committed itself to improving care pathways for offenders in prison and in the community in the cross government Health and Criminal Justice Delivery Plan "Improving Health, Supporting Justice" (November 2009, Department of Health). A copy has already been placed in the Library.
	In the interim, Through-care and After-care programmes in prisons endeavour to ensure that ongoing care requirements are met and planning for discharge occurs so that prison-leavers are referred to services in their home community. Our partners recognise this challenge too and are actively engaged in working through the issues with us.

Vaccination: Children

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  whether he has made an estimate of the number of children eligible for vaccines resident in areas in which the Child Health Interim Application is in use in the last three years;
	(2)  whether he has made an estimate of the effect on the number of children receiving immunisations of errors in the Child Health Interim Application.

Gillian Merron: The Health Protection Agency (HPA) monitors and publishes quarterly COVER (Cover of Vaccine Evaluated Rapidly) uptake data, which includes that from London Strategic Health Authority. This is published on the HPA website:
	www.hpa.org.uk/HPA/Topics/InfectiousDiseases/InfectionsAZ/1204031507699/
	In order to ensure that children within primary care trusts (PCTs) using the Interim Child Health Interim Application (CHIA), received their immunisations at the right time, both regular and additional audit activities were carried out by PCTs, general practitioner practices, BT (the Local Service Provider for the London Cluster) and the Health Protection Agency. These activities have been used to validate the immunisation returns and to ensure that any children overdue an immunisation are invited to have one at the appropriate time. PCT chief executives and the Director of Public Health for London were fully engaged in and supportive of these activities.

Affordable Housing

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made for the purposes of the allocation of regional funding by the Homes and Communities Agency of the likely number of HomeBuy Direct completions in each region in 2010-11.

John Healey: HomeBuy Direct is a demand-led product so regional funding is adjusted to match take up by first-time buyers.

Agriculture: Planning Permission

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to Lord Taylor of Holbeach of 23 February 2010,  Official Report, House of Lords, column 290WA, on planning, what the timetable for the review of effectiveness of planning policy guidance on the protection of the best and most versatile farmland is.

Huw Irranca-Davies: I have been asked to reply.
	Planning policy on agricultural land requires local planning authorities to take account of the presence of best and most versatile agricultural land, alongside other sustainability considerations, when determining planning applications. As outlined in the Soil Strategy, "Safeguarding our Soils(1)", DEFRA and the Department for Communities and Local Government are committed to reviewing the weight that should be given to protecting this land from development. It is planned that the findings from this review will be delivered in 2010.
	(1 )Soil Strategy, Safeguarding our Soils:
	www.defra.gov.uk/environment/quality/land/soil/documents/soil-strategy.pdf

Eco-Towns

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what requirements apply to homes in eco-towns to be constructed at  (a) Level 5 and  (b) Level 6 of the Code for Sustainable Homes.

John Healey: The Planning Policy Statement: eco-towns (PPS), that we published last July, sets out the standards that eco-towns must achieve. The primary focus is to set targets for innovation across the development as a whole, rather than an individual building approach, but it does include minimum performance levels for individual dwellings, including that they should meet at least level 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes.
	On energy efficiency and carbon, the PPS will require dwellings in eco-towns to demonstrate high levels of energy efficiency in the fabric of the building, having regard to proposals for standards to be incorporated into changes to the Building Regulations between now and 2016, and to meet at least 70 per cent. carbon reduction on site relative to Part L 2006 of the building regulations. This level of onsite carbon reduction is more demanding than Code level 4, is consistent with the zero carbon homes standard announced last year and will take effect significantly earlier than the general zero carbon homes requirement. In addition, over a year, the net carbon dioxide emissions from all energy use within the buildings on the eco-town development as a whole must be zero or below. This too is consistent with (and, depending on policy decisions to be made on allowable solutions for zero carbon homes, may be more demanding than) the definition of Zero Carbon Homes which the Government have adopted for introduction in 2016.
	The Eco-towns PPS includes a range of ambitious standards on other aspects of sustainability including high Code levels, for example in relation to water consumption, which taken together are the toughest standards ever required for new development. Copies of the PPS are available in the House Library.

Energy Performance Certificates

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to his Department's publication, Warm homes, greener homes: a strategy for household energy management, whether a privacy impact assessment will be prepared in respect of plans to increase the number of public bodies with access to the Energy Performance Certificate Register.

John Healey: The Department of Energy and Climate Change has recently published 'Warm Homes, Greener Homes', the Government's strategy for Household Energy Management. This Department has recently published a consultation, 'Making better use of Energy Performance Certificates and Data'. This consultation sets out our proposals for increased access to the data collected through energy performance certificates and display energy certificates.
	A small-scale privacy impact statement has been completed by this Department in relation to the proposals contained in the consultation.

Housing

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the ratio of median quintile house prices to lowest quintile earnings was in 2009.

Ian Austin: The information requested can be found on Land Registry and ONS websites.

Local Authorities: Expenditure

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  how much local authorities spent on  (a) children and families services and  (b) other adult care in (i) cash and (ii) real terms in 2009 figures according to revenue account budget estimates data held by his Department in each year since 1997;
	(2)  how much local authorities spent on public conveniences in  (a) cash and  (b) real terms in 2009 figures, according to revenue account budget estimates data held by his Department in each year since 1997;
	(3)  how much local authorities spent on waste collection in  (a) cash and  (b) real terms in 2009 figures, according to revenue account budget estimates data held by his Department in each year since 1997;
	(4)  how much local authorities spent on street cleaning in  (a) cash and  (b) 2009 real terms figures, in each year since 1997 according to revenue account budget estimates data held by his Department;
	(5)  how much local authorities spent on culture and heritage in  (a) cash and  (b) 2009 real terms figures in each year since 1997 according to revenue account budget estimates data held by his Department.

Barbara Follett: The information requested, as reported by local authorities in England, is tabled as follows.
	
		
			  Net current expenditure: England-Cash 
			  £ million 
			 Asylum seekers( 1)  Strategy( 1) 
			   Children and families services  Other adult care  Children  Adult  Total  Children  Adult  Total 
			 1997-98 2,218.3 6,121.4 - - - - - 90.9 
			 1998-99 2,415.2 6,319.1 - - 192.7 - - 105.4 
			 1999-2000 2,762.2 6,839.8 - - 305.5 - - 110.0 
			 2000-01 2,835.0 7,196.1 - - 551.2 - - 121.0 
			 2001-02 3,118.7 7,683.3 - - 552.7 - - 102.0 
			 2002-03 3,469.8 8,797.8 - - 520.9 - - 142.2 
			  
			 2003-04(4) 3,991.7 10,256.2 - - 469.2 - - 84.0 
			 2004-05 4,487.9 11,351.8 - - 336.6 - - 75.1 
			 2005-06 4,757.2 12,186.8 - - 259.1 - - 71.5 
			 2006-07 5,039.9 12,706.0 176.1 54.9 231.0 26.7 50.8 77.5 
			 2007-08 5,219.0 12,988.9 141.2 45.1 186.3 86.6 51.4 138.0 
			 2008-09 5,531.8 13,637.1 147.8 45.5 193.3 127.4 63.8 191.2 
		
	
	
		
			  Real terms (at 2008-09 prices) 
			  £ million 
			 Asylum seekers( 1)  Strategy( 1) 
			   Children and families services  Other adult care  Children  Adult  Total  Children  Adult  Total 
			 1997-98 2,887.0 7,966.7 - - - - - 118.3 
			 1998-99 3,078.4 8,054.3 - - 245.7 - - 134.3 
			 1999-2000 3452.7 8,549.5 - - 381.9 - - 137.5 
			 2000-01 3,497.8 8,878.2 - - 680.0 - - 149.2 
			 2001-02 3,763.7 9,272.3 - - 667.1 - - 123.1 
			 2002-03 4,056.6 10,285.5 - - 609.0 - - 166.2 
			  
			 2003-04(4) 4,538.8 11,661.8 - - 533.5 - - 95.5 
			 2004-05 4,964.9 12,558.4 - - 372.4 - - 83.1 
			 2005-06 5,166.4 13,235.2 - - 281.4 - - 77.7 
			 2006-07 5,316.2 13,402.6 185.8 57.9 243.6 28.1 53.6 81.7 
			 2007-08 5,350.6 13,316.6 144.8 46.3 191.0 88.8 52.7 141.5 
			 2008-09 5,531.8 13,637.1 147.8 45.5 193.3 127.4 63.8 191.2 
		
	
	
		
			  Net current expenditure: England-Cash 
			  £ million 
			   Public conveniences( 2)  Waste collection  Street cleansing (not chargeable to  h ighways)  Culture and heritage( 3) 
			 1997-98 96.4 522.0 337.9 n/a 
			 1998-99 93.8 551.2 361.3 346.3 
			 1999-2000 91.8 581.7 390.4 318.7 
			 2000-01 84.0 637.0 412.8 378.5 
			  
			 2001-02 83.1 676.1 434.4 405.4 
			 2002-03 83.7 752.1 476.6 427.8 
			  
			 2003-04(4) 83.5 865.1 538.3 437.1 
			 2004-05 83.3 965.1 594.6 441.7 
			 2005-06 86.0 1,040.7 627.0 490.6 
			 2006-07 86.6 1,116.0 661.3 535.7 
			 2007-08 87.4 1,186.9 696.8 557.0 
			 2008-09 88.6 1,237.2 741.1 593.6 
		
	
	
		
			  Real terms (at 2008-09 prices) 
			  £ million 
			   Public conveniences( 2)  Waste collection  Street cleansing (not chargeable to  h ighways)  Culture and heritage( 3) 
			 1997-98 125.4 679.4 439.7 n/a 
			 1998-99 119.5 702.6 460.5 441.4 
			 1999-2000 114.7 727.1 488.0 398.4 
			 2000-01 103.6 785.9 509.3 467.0 
			  
			 2001-02 100.3 815.9 524.2 489.3 
			 2002-03 97.9 879.3 557.2 500.2 
			  
			 2003-04(4) 95.0 983.7 612.1 497.0 
			 2004-05 92.2 1,067.7 657.8 488.6 
			 2005-06 93.4 1,130.2 681.0 532.8 
			 2006-07 91.3 1,177.2 697.5 565.0 
			 2007-08 89.6 1,216.8 714.4 571.1 
			 2008-09 88.6 1,237.2 741.1 593.6 
			 (1) A breakdown of children and adult figures prior to 2006-07 is not available. (2) Figures prior to 2001-02 include contributions to rural sewage schemes and cesspool emptying. (3) 1997-98 figure is not available. (4) Figures from 2003-04 onwards are collected on a Financial Reporting Standard (FRS) 17 basis  Source: Communities and Local Government revenue outturn (RO) returns. 
		
	
	The current expenditure defined here is the cost of running local authority services within the financial year. This includes the costs of staffing, heating, lighting and cleaning, together with expenditure on goods and services consumed within the year. This expenditure is offset by income from sales, fees and charges and other (non-grant) income, to give net current expenditure.
	Figures from 2003-04 onwards are collected on a Financial Reporting Standard (FRS) 17 basis.
	The real terms figures are calculated using the latest H M Treasury GDP deflator.

Business: Government Assistance

David Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many officials at each grade have been employed on work relating to the Enterprise Finance Guarantee scheme since its creation; how much has been allocated by his Department for staff costs for the scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The Enterprise Finance Guarantee has been developed by the Department's Enterprise Directorate SME Finance Team, which has policy responsibility for start up and growth for small and medium sized enterprises. The team's resources are deployed on a project basis whereby resources follow priority work. Within this team it is estimated three full-time equivalents across the grades (senior civil service to higher executive officer), at a total employment cost of £199,000 per annum, are employed on work relating to the Enterprise Finance Guarantee scheme.

Higher Education: Admissions

Justine Greening: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many  (a) places there were available at and  (b) applications there were to each higher education establishment in London in each academic year from 2005-06 to 2009-10; and what estimate he has made of the number of (i) places available at and (ii) applications to each of those establishments in 2010-11.

David Lammy: A table detailing the number of accepted applicants and applications to full-time undergraduate courses at each higher education institution (HEI) in Greater London via the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) in each academic year from 2005/06 to 2009/10 will be placed in the libraries of the House.
	The number of places available at each institution is not available centrally, so the number of applicants who were successful in gaining a place has been given. 'Applications' in the tables refers to each application that has been made to a course at one of these institutions; applicants could make up to six applications on their UCAS form up to 2007, and up to five from 2008.
	The Department does not hold an estimate of the number of places available at each establishment for academic year 2010/11, or the final number of applications or accepted applicants for institutions. The following table, which was published by UCAS, contains the number of applications which had been made by 22 January 2010 for 2010/11 year of entry.
	
		
			  Applications via UCAS to full-time undergraduate courses at higher education institutions in London for 2010/11 year of entry (as at 22January 2010) 
			  Institution  Applications 
			 Brunei University 18,118 
			 Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London 5,239 
			 City University 20,170 
			 Courtauld Institute of Art (University of London) 321 
			 Goldsmiths (University of London) 10,740 
			 Heythrop College (University of London) 524 
			 Imperial College London 14,402 
			 King's College London (University of London) 33,925 
			 Kingston University 36,133 
			 London Metropolitan University 19,296 
			 London School of Economics and Political Science (University of London) 18,368 
			 London South Bank University 16,027 
			 Middlesex University 22,452 
			 Queen Mary, University of London 23,329 
			 Ravensbourne College of Design and Communication 2,881 
			 Roehampton University 8,239 
			 Rose Bruford College 3,057 
			 Royal Veterinary College (University of London) 1,809 
			 School of Oriental and African Studies (University of London) 4,059 
			 St George's, University of London (formerly St George's Hospital Medical School) 5,402 
			 St Mary's University College, Twickenham 6,082 
			 Thames Valley University 9,139 
			 The School of Pharmacy (University of London) 1,260 
			 University College London (University of London) 33,185 
			 University of East London 15,149 
			 University of Greenwich 23,953 
			 University of London Institute in Paris 98 
			 University of the Arts London 26,478 
			 University of Westminster 19,748 
			 Grand Total 399,583 
			  Source: UCAS Applications Digest

Students: Disabled

David Evennett: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how much funding his Department and its predecessors have provided to further education colleges to help students with learning disabilities in each of the last three years.

Kevin Brennan: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills allocates funding to the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) for the provision of further education (FE) and training for adult learners aged 19 and over. For 2008-09 financial year the total LSC adult participation budget was £3.17 billion.
	Investing in FE and skills training for learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities (LLDD) remains a priority and we remain committed to maintaining the opportunities for these learners. This means making sure the right level of support is available so that FE colleges and training organisations are able to meet the needs of these learners to access mainstream provision or employment.
	There is no separate budget for the delivery of provision for adult learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities (LDD). They are supported through a range of provision depending on the level of skills and support they need.
	Additional Learning Support (ALS) funding is provided to FE colleges and training organisations to support the additional costs associated with learners with LDD to undertake mainstream provision. It is not possible to disaggregate this information between those who have a learning difficulty or a disability. Investment in ALS for post 19 learners in each of the last three academic years for which information is available (2006/07 to 2008/09) is approximately £160 million. This includes ALS claims recorded on the Individual Learner Record. However, the recording of claims below £5,500 is not a mandatory requirement and some smaller ALS funding will therefore not be included within the figure referred to above.

Unemployment: Leeds

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what proportion of people in Leeds North West constituency aged  (a) between 16 and 18 and  (b) between 19 and 24 years have not been in education, employment or training in each year since 1997.

Kevin Brennan: Estimates are available at local education authority (LEA) level for 16 to 24-year-olds(1) not in education, employment or training (NEET), using the Annual Population Survey (APS). These are given from 2000 to 2008 in table 1. Due to small sample sizes we are unable to produce reliable estimates for geographies smaller than LEA, or for small age groups from the APS. Due to incomplete data, estimates are not available prior to 2000.
	Please note that the estimates in table 1 are subject to large sampling variability and should therefore be treated with caution and viewed in conjunction with their confidence intervals(2) (CIs), which indicate how accurate an estimate is. For example, a CI of +/-3.0 percentage points (pp) means that the true value is between 3.0 pp above the estimate and 3.0 pp below the estimate.
	We are able to provide estimates for 16 to 18-year-olds NEET from records maintained by Connexions services. Table 2 shows the number and percentage of 16 to 18-year-olds not in education, employment or training in Leeds local authority from 2006 to 2008. These data are not directly comparable with the figures given in table 1 or the annual estimate of the proportion of 16 to 18-year-olds NEET in England published annually by DCSF. Connexions data are not available at this level of detail for years before 2006.
	Reliable estimates cannot be provided at parliamentary constituency level for any age grouping from either this data or other sources. No data are available at local authority level for 19 to 24-year-olds.
	(1) Age used is the respondents academic age, which is defined as their age at the preceding 31 August.
	(2) Those given are 95 per cent. confidence intervals.
	
		
			  Table 1: People aged 16 to 24 not in education, employment or training in Leeds LEA 
			   NEET  
			   Number  Percentage  Confidence intervals 
			 2000 6,000 7.4 +/-3.0 
			 2001 9,000 9.9 +/-3.3 
			 2002 7,000 8.0 +/-3.0 
			 2003 10,000 10.3 +/-3.3 
			 2004 11,000 10.2 +/-3.3 
			 2005 19,000 15.2 +/-3.8 
			 2006 11,000 9.7 +/-3.3 
			 2007 16,000 13.1 +/-3.6 
			 2008 20,000 15.5 +/-3.7 
			  Note: Data for 2000 to 2003 is from the Annual Local Area Labour Force Survey, the predecessor to the Annual Population Survey, and covers the period from March of the given year to the following February.  Source: Annual Population Survey 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: People aged 16 to 18 not in education, employment or training in Leeds LA 
			   NEET 
			   Number  Percentage 
			 2006 2,170 9.1 
			 2007 2,380 10.0 
			 2008 2,320 9.5 
			  Notes: 1. Estimates are an average of the figures provided to Connexions at the end of November, December and January. They include all young people known to Connexions who were aged 16, 17 or 18 on these dates. 2. The number of 16 to 18-year-olds known to Connexions includes those whose education establishment is located in the local authority area, regardless of where the young person resides. 3. 16 to 18-year-olds known to be undertaking a gap year, or in custody, are not recorded by Connexions as NEET. 4. The number and percentage of 16 to 18-year-olds NEET have been adjusted to assume a proportion of those whose current activity is not known are NEET. 5. The figures above cannot be compared with DCSF's headline measure of proportion of young people NEET. The headline measure uses a range of data from different sources to estimate the proportion of the population that is NEET, and relate to the young person's academic age.